Directions: In question four alternatives are given for the Idiom/Phrase underlined in the sentences. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the Idiom/Phrase and mark it is the Answer Sheet.

Make one’s mark

Read the passage carefully and give the answer of following questions.

The public sector banks are witnessing in India a period of transition and are at crossroads, where they without giving up social responsibility, should also remain healthy. They need to undertake risky experiments, yet perform it innovatively in a way it does not fail. They should make forays into new areas which are rarely tread by them and lose no emerging opportunities. It should be understood that absence of any bad advance is no sign of efficient banking system. It only indicates immense conservatism. However this is no guarantee for profit. There should be a balance between liquidity and risk. Past sins should be forgotten. Novel and pragmatic techniques should be adopted without which banks would be in danger.

What, according to the author, are the public sector banks witnessing?

In each of the following questions, sentences are given with blanks to be filled in with an appropriate word (s). Four alternatives are suggested for each question. Choose the correct alternative out of the four and indicate your choice for the correct answer.

Dense mangroves are common varieties with roots submerged ______ water.

Directions: Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error or idiomatic error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (5). (Ignore errors of punctuation, if any.) 

In a country currently there is (1)/ absolute no shortage in fact (2)/ there is an abundance of pilots holding (3)/ a valid license but unable to find a job. (4) / No error (5).

Directions: In the following passage there are blanks, each of which has been numbered. These numbers are printed below the passage and against each, five words are suggested, one of which fits the blank appropriately. Find out the appropriate word in each case. 

There is plenty written about the wealth divide in the U.S. economy. But there is another important divide the one between consumers and corporations. If you look at how U.S. households have been behaving (96) you'd think it was all blue skies. Consumer, confidence is at a five-year high, thanks to higher stock prices and a (97) in the housing market. Home prices have had their biggest jump since 2005. Consumers, finally feeling more (98) are buying that new car or electronic gadget and bolstering GDP growth a bit. The wealth gap between America's high-income group and everyone else has (99) record high levels since the economic recovery from the Great Recession of 2007-09, with a clear (100) of increasing wealth for the upper-income families and no wealth growth for the middle-and lower-income families.

(1) target
(2) projection
(3) trajectory
(4) tarnation
(5) temptation 

Direction: In the following questions, out of the four alternatives, choose the one which best expresses the meaning of the given word as your answer.

ISOLATION

Which one of the following is the correct meaning of -
 That which cannot be heard.

Directions :  In the following passage there are blanks, each of which has been numbered. These numbers are printed below the passage, against each, five words are suggested, one of which fits the blank appropriately. Find out the appropriate word in each case .
Once there was a lake which was (1) to many golden swans. Every six months, the swans would leave a golden feather as a (2) for using the lake. The soldiers of the kingdom in which the lake was, would collect the feathers and deposit them in the royal treasury. One day, a homeless bird saw the lake. "The water in this lake (3) so coot and soothing. I will (4) my nest here," thought the bird. As soon as the bird settled down near the lake, the golden swans noticed her. They shouted, "This lake belongs to us! We pay a golden feather to the King for using it. You cannot live here."
"I am homeless, brothers. I too will pay the rent. Please give me (5)." the bird pleaded. "How will you pay the rent? You do not have golden feathers," said the swans, laughing. They further added, "Stop dreaming and leave at once." The humble bird pleaded many times. But, the arrogant swans (6) her away. "I will teach them a lesson!" decided the humiliated bird. She went to the King and said, "O King! The, swans, in your lake are impolite and unkind. I begged for shelter but they said that they had rented the lake"." The King was angry with the arrogant swans for (7) insulted the homeless bird. He ordered his soldiers to bring the arrogant swans to his court. In no time, all the golden swans were brought to the King's court. "Do you think the royal treasury depends upon your golden feathers? You cannot decide who lives by the lake. Leave the lake at once or you all will be beheaded!" shouted the King. The swans shivered with (8) on hearing the King. They flew away and never (9). The bird built her home near the lake and lived there happily forever. The bird gave shelter to all other birds who (10) to stay near the lake. 

Fill in the blank at (9).